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Posted
Sat 11 Oct 14
at 16:45 PM

Eastleigh: Report

FC Halifax Town were beaten in convincing fashion, losing 4-1 to Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium. Goals from Jai Reason, Michael Green, Stuart Fleetwood and Ben Strevens was enough to cancel out Scott Boden’s early opener.

After a quiet opening few minutes, Town created the first chance of the afternoon. Straight from Glennon’s goalkick, Hattersley won the flick on to Boden. He slipped it into the oncoming Schofield, who then fizzed the ball dangerously across the six yard box, however Smith was unable to get on the end of it.

Moments later Eastleigh were presented with a great chance to take the lead. A routine long ball forward found Mcallister after he shrugged off Bolton, but the Spitfires striker lashed it into the side netting to the relief of the traveling Shaymen faithful.

However, Town took the lead moments later through a Scott Boden penalty. Smith struck a fierce left footed strike from the edge of the box. Flitney could only parry the ball, and Hattersley was alert and got their before the keeper and was clipped down. Boden confidently stepped up and slotted the ball expertly into the top right corner, giving Flitney no chance.

Town’s lead was short lived, as Eastleigh responded within a matter of minutes with an equaslier from Jai Reason.It appeared that Reason was going to whip his delivery into the danger area. However, he curled a 25 yard free kick past a dumbfounded and helpless Glennon.

The equaliser rallied the Spitfires and they began to get a grip on the game. Green got down the left hand side and his cross found its way to the back post where Reason was looking to double his tally, but mistimed his effort.

Eastleigh had another good chance to take the lead. After a scramble in the Town 18 yard box, the ball fell kindly to Green. He struck it sweetly on the volley but it didn’t trouble Glennon as it flew just over the bar.

The Spitfires were agonisingly close to going into the break with the lead. A deep corner from Reason, found the unmarked head of Strevens. His looping effort hit the underside of the bar and onto the post, with Glennon scurrying to get hold of the ball.

Eastleigh picked up where they left off in the first half, taking the lead in the 53rd minute. Reason played the ball out wide to Michael Green. The adventurous left back found himself in acres of space, and after Bolton slipped, he struck the ball into the roof of the net.

The Shaymen almost replied immediately in similar fashion to Tuesday’s game against Wrexham. After a long ball forward, the ball dropped to Hattersley who struck his volley into the side netting.

Town continued to respond in a positive fashion and should have been level. Bolton’s clipped in ball found Maynard at the back box. The substitute headed it across goal for Hattersley to tap in from six yards. Nevertheless, the man on loan from Southport blazed it over to the astonishment of everyone in the ground.

Town were once again desperately unlucky not to draw level, this time from a set piece. Ainge got on the end of Smith’s free kick, his effort was cleared as far as Paul Marshall, who struck the ball on the half volley, only to hit the crossbar.

Despite Town’s pressure, Eastleigh strengthened their lead against the run of play in the 76th minute. A route one ball from deep found Fleetwood. He skipped past Bolton, and his shot struck Williams and looped over a helpless Glennon.

Eastleigh ended the contest in the 89th minute, with Stuart Fleetwoods whipped in ball from the right hand side finding an unmarked Ben Strevens to nod in from close range.

Jackson came close to grabbing a consolation goal in the dying embers of the match, but overall it was a disappointing afternoon for The Shaymen, who dropped down to fifth in the Vanarama Conference.